Charges in mystery

Police: Trio linked to vanished drug dealer, possibly 2 others

ROBERT GAVIN Staff write, Times Union

By ROBERT GAVIN Staff writer

Published 2:27 pm, Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ashley Marie Carroll
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Ashley Marie Carroll

Albany County District Attorney David Soares enters the back door of the Albany County Judicial Center on January 6, 2011, before the case of three Albany men charged with the kidnapping of a major marijuana dealer who police believe is dead. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

ALBANY -- Three Albany men have been charged with kidnapping a high-level marijuana dealer who vanished in June and is presumed dead -- and investigators are probing possible ties to two other local missing persons cases.

Their arrests come after a six-month investigation that revealed possible ties to the disappearances of Ashley Marie Carroll, 24, a Troy woman last seen in May, and a missing man identified only as Donald Green.

Authorities believe Jackson, 41, of Guilderland, known as "Swag," was a drug partner of Uzzell, who allegedly orchestrated his abduction with the help of cronies that included his two co-defendants.

Jackson, formerly of Hempstead on Long Island, was awaiting the delivery of drugs in a deal involving around 500 pounds of marijuana when he was abducted, investigators say.

They allege the kidnappers watched Jackson on Parkwood Street -- using a GPS tracking device -- and engaged in a criminal conspiracy between Feb. 1 and June 16. The co-defendants and two other men allegedly communicated by cellphones during the scheme.

On the day of the abduction, the men allegedly watched the Parkwood Street spot from 8 to 11:07 a.m. Davis and another man placed calls to Uzzell before the abduction, which took place at about 1 p.m., the indictment said.

The investigation was aided by tips generated by media reports of Jackson's disappearance, District Attorney David Soares said in a statement.

Uzzell, known as "G," works for the state Department of Health. According to a 1996 article in the Times Union, he once operated Lenzell's, a Central Avenue clothing business, with his mother.

The store's grand opening in March 1996 attracted dignitaries such as Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and Mayor Jerry Jennings. "We're in it for the duration," Uzzell was quoted as saying at the time.

Authorities said Davis, known as "Inf," owns the Super Sandwiches and Deli Shop on Central Avenue in Albany. He was described as the muscle in the apprehension of Jackson.

All three men were charged with first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy. The kidnapping count alone carries 25 years to life.

Benn, known as "Jay," is charged with possessing stolen property because he allegedly used the victim's credit card on the day of the kidnapping at a Price Chopper supermarket on Central Avenue.

The five-count indictment was unsealed Thursday by acting state Supreme Court Justice Dan Lamont. The indictment said the conspirators' plan was to kidnap Jackson and "leave him to die."

It continued: "The object of the conspiracy was to thereby extract information from Steven Jackson relating to the location of marijuana and marijuana proceeds and so to acquire said marijuana proceeds from the person of Steven Jackson and/or from places under his custody or control."

Formal arraignments were postponed for Uzzell and Davis, who did not have attorneys. Benn was represented by Michael Feit. All three pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail at the county jail. Benn was clad in a shirt with an image of a crown and the words "of the hood."

Carroll vanished after telling friends she was meeting up with a boyfriend in the area of First Street in Albany. Her mother, who lives in Rensselaer, reported Carroll missing to police in that city, where Carroll had lived. Albany police subsequently joined the search.

"At least it's a starting point. We haven't heard anything," said Jim Carroll of Cohoes, uncle of Ashley Carroll. "I'm glad to hear something. It's been 244 days ... just not knowing is the worst. I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I've spent. Where could she be?"

The investigation into the disappearance of Jackson involved police from Albany, Guilderland, Rensselaer and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities asked anyone with information about the case or other missing persons cases in the Capital Region to call Albany detectives at 462-8039.